The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1887-03-22
MIDAS IN WASHINGTON.
HOW RESIDENT MlLlIONAIRES IN
CREASE THE COST OF LIVING.
A Chat With George H. Pendleton-A
Look at Mrs. Folsom-Pen Picture Of
Senator Fair--A Story Of Senator Chase.
6I25, 900, 900 In q Lump.
Especial Correspondence. !

WASHINGTON March l5.-I met George
Fl. Pendleton, our minister TO Germany,
the other night at Wormley's He is
well dressed and as clean looking as ever,
and he has the same suave manner and pleas
ant words which gave him the title of "Gen-
tleman George" His health appears to be
better than it was when he left the United
States His complexion is clearer and his
blue eyes are brighter. There is not an adj
ditional gray strand in the thick thatch OF
his well cut hair and his step is as sprlngy as
though he were but 90 He NlIs me he likes
the diplomatic service very well, that
he has no trouble with his German and
that Berlin is very pleasant station. de
speaks very highly of Prince Bismarck and
Kaiser Wilhelm, and says that the emperor's
health, both mentally and physically, Is ex-
cellent | asked him as to the prospects OF
war. He replied that he did not thirI there
would DO an immediate war, though every
thing looked threatening, and what would
happen when the spring opened no one but
Bismarck knew. He says that Emperor
William considers the army as a school as well
as defense, and he thinks that 1t benefitS the
German youth TO have several years OF mill
tary training as a preparation for the other
duties of life The reichstag bas been called
for the 81 Of March instead Of the 10th, and
this is an evidence that Bismarck has par
lament 10 suit him. Mr.. Pendeton tells me
there nrn so Americans in Berlin, and that
more thnn 1O0 American students attend the
university there. He says Berlin grows very
rapidly, and that it now has population OF
about .jN0.HO
A pot ot money now goes great way III
washington society. King Midas begins to
assert his reign here The blight OF the mil
lionaire is spreading. The era OF blue blood
and big brains is passing away. That Of the
money bags aud shoddy aristocracy is conf
ing in. The statesman who lives at board
ing house and keeps within his income OF
5000 a year is now very ordinary person
socially, and the lions are those whose checks
are GOOD for hundreds OF thousands ana
whose assets run into the millions iANlng III
Washington costs more and more from year
TO YEAR. aud this cost will continue to increase
A. the CITY grows The wife OF one OF
the senators wore diamonds at q presidents
reception this winter said TO be worth SJOO,-
OOO, and a social gathering OF any kind brings
out diamonds by the cupful. The result Is
that the poorer of our public men are no.
able 10 keep house at Washington, and sucl'
as have daughters i'll society are spending fox
more than their income / know Of prOnd-
nent members of the house who have been
compelled to put mortgages on their homes
to paw their winters entertaining bills, ana
one well known stateSmarls house was sold at
sheriff's sale not long ago fer this reason
prominent western senator, whose wife Is we'll
known in Washington society, said yester-
dav that he wished he could pass a law
10 prevent any millionaire residing in Wash
ington. and doubt not that majority OF the
statesmen wish for the days before the war
when congressman lived in messes, and good
board could be had for from 80 10 SlO
week. The noyeau richie who have invaded
Washington society have bought magnificent
houses and their palaces are scattered all
along Massachusetts, avenue and K street.
They give gorgeous receptions, drive about
the city in magnificent carriages, and the
cost OF their dinners runs into the thousands
of dollars They have been received with
open arms, and some Of them secure social
standing here which they fail to obtSin III
their own homes
But how about the old Washingtonians'
Those blue blooded aristocrats who come
from the stock Of the statesmen OF the past,
and who have prided themselves for these
many years on their exclusivenessl
Alasl this element il fast becoming one OF
the myths OF the past. The old Washing-
tonians now call on every one, and you hnd
them kneeng before the golden thrones
Washington society is governed by differ
ent rule than that Of any other city, and tho
rule is tn call upon those who call upon You,
and ask no questions Any one VINO max y
the rounds Of calls in Washington, and leaves
q card with her residence upon 1t IN a good
part OF the city. would receive calls from
nine-tenths OF the ladies she calls upon. ~
her homo has the glitter OF fortune about IL
its owner need have little fear about the ac-
cuaintance being kept up, and her invitations
TO dinners and teas will be accepted. The
newspapers will notice her, and IN short
time she will find herself one OF the
figures OF Washington society. IL Is from
this that Washington society has not as hlgh
an average as that OF other cities. 1t has the
best people in the country, but it has also
some Of the worst. 1t Is made up OF the most
anu SOllc fSiJ isuOioHS' ~ H~''
in one ear French and Spanish from the SAME
tongue, and in the other bad grammar Nnc
slang Where the doors are thrown open 10
the world as they are here you must expect
TO get nll sorts. 1t is the ola podrida OF the
social elements in the United States mixed
together with seasoning, and 1t Is not strange
that in the other cities Of the United States,
where long acquaintance and real worth have
much to do with building up social standards,
the general average should be better than
here.
I was much interested the other day with
the way Mrs. Cleveland received the 1000 or
10. 900 peop'e who passed before her at
public reception She was very beautiful in
her garnet velvet decollette dress, and
noted that she enjoyed shaking hands with
common people as much a. she had with the
diplomats and the officers Of the army and
navy at the state receptions. saw Mrs Fol-
som. the presidents mothcr-in-law, behind
the receiving line She b q very fine look
ing woman. She appears young and fresh'
though she must be over 40 She has made
many friends here in Washington, and
bear her well spoken OF everywhere. She is
q quiet, cultured soman, pleasant taiKer,
he .n,o.pauOa af being almost